Clinical differentiation of acute necrotizing from chronic nonsuppurative pancreatitis in cats: 63 cases (1996-2001)

OBJECTIVE: To characterize clinical, clinicopathologic, radiographic, and ultrasonographic findings in cats with histologically confirmed acute necrotizing pancreatitis (ANP) or chronic nonsuppurative pancreatitis (CP) and identify features that may be useful in the antemortem differentiation of these disorders. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 63 cats with histologically confirmed ANP (n = 30) or CP (33). PROCEDURE: Medical records were reviewed for signalment, clinical signs, concurrent diseases, clinicopathologic findings, and results of radiography and ultrasonography. RESULTS: Cats in both groups had similar nonspecific clinical signs, physical examination findings, and radiographic and ultrasonographic abnormalities. Abdominal ultrasonographic abnormalities, including hypoechoic pancreas, hyperechoic mesentery, and abdominal effusion, were found in cats in both groups and, therefore, were not specific for ANP. Cats with CP were significantly more likely to have concurrent diseases than were cats with ANP (100 and 83%, respectively). Clinicopathologic abnormalities were similar between groups; however, serum alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities were significantly higher in cats with CP. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that ANP and CP in cats cannot be distinguished from each other solely on the basis of history, physical examination findings, results of clinicopathologic testing, radiographic abnormalities, or ultrasonographic abnormalities.     

Involvement of Parachlamydia in bovine abortions in Scotland

Bovine abortion represents a major animal welfare issue and a cause of substantial economic loss yet the rate of successful diagnosis remains low. Chlamydia-related organisms including Parachlamydia have recently emerged as putative cattle abortifacients. Placental tissue samples and fetal lung from bovine abortion submissions across Scotland in Spring 2011 were investigated by histopathology for the presence of suspect Chlamydia-related organisms. Evidence of Chlamydia-related organisms was observed in 21/113 (18.6%) placenta samples. Thirteen of the suspect cases and 18 histopathology negative cases were analysed by molecular and immunohistochemical methods. All samples were PCR positive for Parachlamydia but sequencing revealed high homology between identified environmental 16S sequences in all but three cases. Parachlamydial antigen was detected in 10/31 placental samples (32.2%) with pathology consistent with chlamydial infection. This work supports the need for further surveillance investigations and experimental studies to determine the role of Parachlamydia in bovine abortion.     

Soil lead concentrations in residential Minnesota as measured by ICP-AES

A total of 2454 samples were collected to evaluate the degree, extent, and distribution of Pb contaminated soil in Minnesota. Samples were collected primarily at locations where susceptible populations were concentrated. Soil Pb concentrations in chilldren's play areas, urban gardens, and at open sites were generally below 100 μg g ^?1 when Pb painted structures were absent. Street side and yard soils typically had Pb concentrations between 10 to 300 μg g^?1, with samples collected near major highways or Pb painted structures exhibiting greater values. The most severely contaminated soils were found in localized areas around the foundations of private residences, where concentrations up to 20 136 μg g^?1 were detected. Exterior Pb based house paint is the major Pb source in these soils, and its presence greatly influences the distribution of contaminated soil in individual yards. Contamination attributable to autoemissions is less concentrated but more widespread than contamination from paint. A higher proportion of soils exceeding 1000 wg g^?1 Pb was found in large cities than elsewhere. However, a sufficient number were detected in small cities and rural areas to confirm that high soil Pb levels are not exclusively an urban phenomenon. By examining the degree, extent, and distribution of Pb contaminated soils in Minnesota, this study provides information useful in guiding response actions to reduce children's exposure to Pb by this pathway.     

The existence of an Allee effect in populations of Porcellio scaber (Isopoda: Oniscidea)

An Allee effect occurs when at low densities there is a positive relationship between density and fitness leading to a higher probability of extinction. One circumstance in which it may arise is when isolated individuals are less effective in modifying their environment in a favourable way than groups of individuals. In this paper we use Porcellio scaber to test the hypothesis that the fitness correlate of growth rate will vary as a function of density not just due to the negative effects of increasing interference competition whilst foraging at higher densities, but also positively at lower densities due to isolated individuals spending more time and energy searching for other individuals with which to aggregate whilst sheltering.Below densities of 70 m^–2 relative growth rates increased as a function of density, above 70 m^–2 growth rate decreased with increasing density. Time spent walking and searching increased at lower densities. These behavioural observations, together with the original observations on water loss and oxygen consumption made by Allee [1], are used to interpret the curvilinear growth rate response to density as an example of a component Allee effect, which is discussed in relation to the importance of aggregation as an adaptation to the terrestrial environment in the Oniscidea.     

Whooping crane recruitment enhanced by egg removal

To facilitate recovery through captive breeding and foster-parenting programs of the endangered whooping crane, one of two eggs was removed from 62% of nests in Wood Buffalo National Park during 1967-1996. Egg removals were justified because cranes usually rear a single chick; the other dies to siblicide or predation. Concerns exist that the wild population might have recovered even faster if nests had not been disturbed. Here we show, contrary to expectation, that removing one of two eggs from a whooping crane nest actually increases the probability of nest success, and this effect is highly correlated with the dynamics of predators in the nesting area. These results beg the question: why do whooping cranes lay two eggs? We attribute two-egg clutches to occasional “good years” in which both chicks survive, compensating for higher mortality in two-egg broods. Egg removal has benefited conservation allowing establishment of several captive flocks, supporting reintroduction of two new populations, and reducing the variance in reproductive success of the wild flock thereby minimizing extinction risk.     

Leaching of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen under cotton farming systems in a Vertisol

Leaching with deep drainage is one of the loss pathways of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in cropping fields. However, field studies in irrigated row cropping systems are sparse. A 3‐year investigation on C and N leaching associated with deep drainage was overlaid on a long‐term experiment on tillage practices and crop rotations in Australia. The treatments included cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) monoculture and cotton–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or maize (Zea maize L.) rotations with maximum or minimum tillage. The deep drainage C and N concentrations at 0.6 and 1.2 m depth were measured after furrow irrigation with ceramic cup samplers during the 2014–15, 2015–16 and 2016–17 cotton seasons. Pre‐planting dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration in soil at 0.6–1.2 m depth during 2016–17 was 64 mg kg^?1 for maximum tilled cotton monoculture, 36 mg kg^?1 for minimum tilled cotton monoculture and 39 mg kg^?1 for cotton–wheat, and in maize and cotton subplots 51 and 41 mg kg^?1, respectively. Post‐harvest DOC values in soil were similar in all treatments (average of 32 mg DOC kg^?1). Total organic carbon (TOC) losses in deep drainage were equal to 2%–30% of TOC gained in irrigation water. Oxidized N losses in deep drainage ranged from 0.7% to 12% of applied N (260 kg ha^?1). NOx‐N concentrations in leachate under maize systems (20 mg L^?1) were up to 73% lower than those in cotton systems (75 mg L^?1). Maize sown in rotation with cotton can improve cotton yield, reduce N leaching and improve N use efficiency of subsequent cotton.     

Dry Deposition of Sulphur at a High-Altitude Background Station in South Africa

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - The inferential method is applied to estimate dry deposition rates of sulphur at a remote rural site on the South African south-eastern escarpment. Two 2-week...     

An overview of general features of risk assessments of genetically modified crops

The intentional introduction into the environment or market of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is nearly always governed by a framework of science-based risk assessment and risk management measures. This is usually implemented through the integration of hazard identification and characterisation of all of the elements of risk associated with a new GM crop or derived product. Typical categories of hazards arising from the introduction of transgenic crops include: possible unintended negative health effects in a susceptible subgroup of the consumer (target) population; the evolution of resistance in the targeted pest/pathogen populations when the transgene confers resistance to a pest or pathogen; non-target hazards associated directly or indirectly with the transgenic plant or transgene product outside the plant; and those associated with the integration and subsequent expression of the transgene in a different organism or species following gene flow. The consequences of likely exposure to these and other hazards are considered in this introduction to the main issues raised when evaluating the possible risks arising from the importation or cultivation of genetically modified crops.